Sugar-refining apparatus.



Patented May 28, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

R O T N E V N ATTORNEY K. K. KAITA.

SUGAR HEFINIING APPARATUS.

APPLICATlON FILED OCT. 18, 1917- Patented May 28,1918.

' 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

@2 34 K may S E S S E N H w ATTO RN EY K. K KAITA.

SUGAR REFINING APPARATUS,

APPLICATION FILED 0cT.|8,,\9|1.-

1 ,267,4: 1 9 Patented May 28, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

/Z /fl 43 /7 Z0 37 a Z? 35 Z9 46 J9 J7 7 I INVENTOR WITNESSES Mild ATTORN EY T FFTQE.

KISEL K. KAITA, 0F LAI-IAINA MAIN, TERRITORY OF HAWAII.

SUGAR-REFINING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 18, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KrsnL K. KAITA, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lahaina Main, in the Territory of Hawaii, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Sugar-Refining Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sugar refining apparatus, having for itsprimary object to provide a machine which is capable of refining a greatamount of sugar in a comparatively short time, and which may be keptcontinuously in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a refining machinewhichefliciently works the mass delivered thereto so as to separate themolasses from the crystallized matter without waste.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sugar refiningmachine of that type wherein a rotatable drum is employed, and which isequipped with a novel means for introducing the mass to the interior ofthe drum and for preventing the mass adhering to the drum in unevenquantities, which is provided with means for keeping the mass at alltimes agitated during the refining process, which employs novel meansfor moving the charging and agitating mechanism through and out of therotatable basket, and which will prove thoroughly efficient in practice.

With these objects in view together with others which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation,combination, and arrangement of parts, all as will be described morefully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation. of a sugar refiningmachine constructed. in accordance with the invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken through thesugar refining machine,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the casing uponsubstantially the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary end view of the machine,

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the scraper,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

Serial No. 197,312.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the comb apparatus,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged. fragmentary side elevation of the gearing for themechanism, and Fig. 8 is an end view illustrating the gearing.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, 10 indicates a hollowcylindrical casing, being closed at its forward end by a allel with theshaft 12 are trackways 1a,

which support the ends of a carrier bar 15. This carrier bar has mountedintermediate its ends a standard 16, the upper end of which has fixedlysecured thereto a sleeve 17 inclosing and capable of movinglongitudinally upon the shaft 12. This sleeve is relatively long, and isprovided with a pair of spaced flanges or heads 18 and 19, upon theformer of which is rotatably mounted a ring 20 of relatively largediameter. The flange or head 19 is of greater diameter than the head 18and is equipped at its edge with a ring 21, the said ring being ofslightly greater diameter than the ring 20.

Secured as at 22 upon the shaft 12 and within the casing 10 is a basketor drum 23, one end of which is closed as at 24 while the rear end isopen as shown. This drum is of less diameter than the casing 10' and issupported at its rear end upon a bearing 25 affixed to the interior ofthe said casing. The circumference of the basket or drum 23 isforaminated, so that the liquid contents thereof may pass through intothe casing 10 and the latter is equipped with a discharge spout oroutlet 26 at its forward end. It will be observed that the bearing 25 issecured to the interior of the casing 10 by an annular member 27, andthis annular member constitutes an abutment for the ring 21 carried bythe rear head 19 on the traveling sleeve. The ring 20 is ofsubstantially equal is in mesh with a pinion 33 carried by a rod 34rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 35 upon the board 28. The rods 34project rearwardly from the casing, and extend beyond the rear head 19of the sleeve, being equipped at its rear extremity with a hand wheel36. It is obvious, therefore, that the blade 31 constituting the scrapermay be moved radially inwardly or outwardly of its supporting bar 28 byrotating the hand wheel 36. By so adjusting the scraper blade,

it is obvious that the outer edge of the same may be moved into or outof engagement with the interior surface of the rotatable basket or drum23.

The outer edge of the plate 29 has rotata' bly mounted thereon andcoextensive therewith a rod 37, which is provided with a. plurality ofcomb teeth 38, the latter terminating at their outer ends close to theinterior surface of the rotatable drum 23. The rear end of the rod 37 isequipped with a crank arm 39, and to which one end of a link 40 isconnected. The link 40 is connected at its opposite end to a crank arm41 carried by a rotatable shaft or rod42 mounted in suitable bearingsupon the sleeve 17. The said rod 42 projects rearwardly beyond the head19 and is provided with a handle 43. By rotating the rod 42, it isobvious that the comb rod 37 will be simultaneously rotated, whereuponthe teeth 38 may be moved toward or away from the inner surface of therotatable drum.

The rear end of the main shaft 12 is provided with a gear 44, which isin mesh with a similar gear 45 mount-ed upon a counter shaft 46. Thecounter shaft 46 is provided with a clutch indicated generally at 47,and by means of which a ower connection between the shaft 12 anc therear end of the counter shaft 46 may be made or broken as desired. Therear end of the shaft 46 has secured thereto a gear 48.

Arranged in spaced parallel relation to the counter shaft 46 is anothercounter shaft 49, to which a gear 50 is secured. v The forward end ofthe shaft 49 is also provided with a gear 51 in mesh with a gear 52 onthe rear end of a jack shaft 53, This ack shaft may be supported in anysuitable manner, and is provided adjacent its forward end with a worm54. The worm 54 engages in an internally threaded opening in the limitin one direction, a

transversely disposed bar 15, and in such .manner that rotation of theshaft 53 will in mesh with the gear 56, and the bracket may be operatedupon the shaft 49 by moving the hand lever 58. The gear 56 is at alltimes engaged with the gear 50, while the gear 57 may be moved into orout of mesh with the gear 48 on the counter shaft 46. When the handlever 58 is moved to its power connection between the shafts 46 and 49will be established through gears 48, 5.6 and 50, while mlovement of thelever 58 to its limit in a reverse direction establishes a connectionbetween said shaft through gears 48, 57, .56 and 50. This particulararrangement makes it possible for the counter shaft 49 to be rotatedselectively in opposite directions.

The head 19 upon the slidable sleeve is provided with a pair of fillinghoppers 59, which are in communication at their inner ends with thespace between the heads 1819 and are enlarged and turned upwardly attheir opposite ends in the rear of the head 19 to receive matter to beintroduced to the rotatable drum.

In operation, the motor 13 is started, and the drum 23 at once begins torotate. The raw material is introduced to the interior of the drum bybeing poured into the hoppers 59. It is to be understood that thedischarging apparatus which is carried by the sleeve 17 is moved intothe drum prior to the charging operation. The mass delivered to theinterior of the drum through the hopper 59 is deposited upon the boardsor plates 28 or 29 and drops upon the interior of the rotating drum. Thescraper blade 31 is adjusted so as to keep the mass evenly distributedupon the interior surface of the drum, and the knives or comb teeth 38at the bottom of the drum keep the mass agitated so as to cool or dryquickly. Moisture in the mass is relieved therefrom byv centrifugalforce as the drum rotates, and passes through the foraminous drum andinto the casing 10, being led therefrom through the outlet or dischargepipe 26. After the refining process, the clutch 47 may be thrown in, andthe lever 58 operated so as to cause the worm 54 to rotate in adirection to move the bar 15 rearwardly. This movement causes thedischarging apparatus to be withdrawn from the rotating drum, and thesugar will pass from the rear or open end of the drum or basket.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a refiningapparatus which is of an extremely simple construction, and whichoperates so as to rapidly separate the molasses from the crystallizedmass without waste.

While the present is a disclosure of what is believed to be thepreferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited thereto, as various changes in the minordetails of con struction, proportion, and arrangement of parts may beresorted to if desired without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim 4 1. In a device of the class described, a rotatable drum, asleeve movable into and out of said drum, a pair of heads arranged inspaced relation on said sleeve, a scraper supported by said sleeve,means for moving said scraper toward and away from said drum, andfilling hoppers 011 said sleeve and communicating with the interior ofsaid drum.

2. In a device of the class described, a rotatable drum, a sleevemovable into and out of said drum, heads on said sleeve, rings rotatably mounted on said heads, one of said rings being equal in diameterto the interior of said drum, the other ring being of greater diameterthan the interior of the drum, hoppers carried by said sleeve, and thelarger of said rings being adapted to engage over the open end of saiddrum.

3. In a device of the class described, a rotatable drum, a dischargingapparatus in said drum, a rod rotatably mounted on said dischargingapparatus, teeth extending outwardly from said rod, and means on theexterior of said drum for rotating said rod.

4. In a device of the class described, a rotatable foraminous drum, adischarging apparatus in said drum, a scraper blade carried by saiddischarging apparatus and being capable of moving into and out ofcontact with the interior of said drum, a rack bar connected to saidblade, a gear in mesh with said rack bar, and means upon the exterior ofsaid drum for rotating said gear.

5. In a device of the class described, a cylindrical casing, a shaftextending centrally through said casing, a drum secured to said shaftand capable of rotating within said casing, a sleeve slidably mountedupon said shaft and capable of moving into and out of said drum, headsarranged in spaced relation upon said sleeve, one of said heads beingadapted to enter and to closely fit with said drum, a comb arrangedbetween said heads, the teeth of said comb being adapted to move towardand away from the interior surface of said drum, a scraper bladearranged between said heads and capable of moving toward and aWay fromsaid drum, means for moving said blade, and means for adjusting saidcomb teeth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

KISEL K. KAITA. Witnesses: q

FREDERICK M. OMOTO, SAMUEL K. HINCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. I

